SCUDDER
485
SCULPTURE
years abroad, his health having suffered from the cli- mate, Dr. Scudder returned to America in 1842, and re- mained until 181(). During tliese tour years his time was employed in constant missionary service among the churches of this country. His labors among children and youth were memorable for tlie crowds that attended his public meetings, and his marvellous success in ad- dressing them and direct influence for their conversion and consecration to the mission work. Upon his return to India, he resumed his work with characteristic zeal and energy. For a short time (184'J), lie was tempo- rarily connected with the Madura mission. In Novem- ber of the same year Mrs. Scudder died, and but a lew days previously his son Samuel also deceased at New IJrunswick, N. J., where he was i)ursuing his theological studies preparatory to joining his father and brothers in India. The death of this promising young man, in his twenty-second year, called forth one of the most touch- ing appeals for men for his tiekl, and in their absence he resolved to make up for Samuel's loss by personally ren- dering extra service. This excessive labor brought on serious illness. In 1854, by medical advice, he went to the Cape of Good Hope. The voyage reinvigorated him, and after a brief sojourn at Wynberg, where he was very usefid in Christian labors among the English- speaking people, he arranged to return again to his field. But only two days before the ship arrived, he died suddenly of apoplexy, Jan. 13, 1855. Of his fourteen children, nine survive. His seven sons and two daughters became missionaries in the same field with their parents, and in the Arcot Mission of the Re- formed Church. Two of the sons have since been obliged to leave India on account of ill-health, and have done good service to the Church at home. One of the daughters was, and the other still is, in missionary work (1870). Besides his numerous communications to the Missionary Herald and other serials for thirty-five years, Dr, Scudder issued several publications, which have all had a wide and useful circidation. Among these are, The Redeemer's Last Command: — The Harvest Perish- ing:— An Appeal to Mothers: — Knocking at the Door: — Passinfj over Jordan: — Letters to Children, etc. Dr. Scudder's distinguishing traits were decision of charac- ter, martyr-like attachment to the truth, and steadfast- ness in prosecuting his plans. He had in him many of the highest elements of moral heroism, a sublime daring to do right irrespective of opposition, a supreme regard for first principles, a scorn of all that was mean and small, a " zeal according to knowledge," and a practical wisdom in accomplishing his purposes which easily overrode mere conventionalities of routine. His intel- lect was robust, intensely active, and independent. His will was most positive and all- controlling when once he believed himself to be right. Nothing daunted his brave soul. In early life he had for moiilhs been the victim of a most terrible spiritual conflict, which ended in a peace that nothing afterwards seriously disiurbed. It was the grand victory of liis life, which ilwarfed all other contests and made self-sacrifice the easy law of his new being. When one told him that he should consult conscience lest he should overwork himself, he said that he had "quashed conscience of that sort long ago." When asked in America, " What are the discourage- ments of the missionary work V" he re|ilied, "I do not know the word. I long ago erased it from my vocabu- lary." He fought the battles of temperance among the missions and people, and for the extirpation of caste in the churches of India, with heroic power and triumph. His piety was sweetly expressed in saying to one of his sons ''that his ambition was to be one of the inner circle around Jesus in heaven." For years before his death he enjoyed unbroken "assurance of faith." His power and tact in personal religious conversation with almost every one that lie met were wonderful. He preached the Gospel in almost every large town in Southern India. He made frequent and extensive tours for this purpose, preaching generally twice a day, and once '' be stood at
his post eleven consecutive hours. He did not even stop to eat, but had coffee brouglit to him." His biogra- phy is full of stirring incidents illustrating these and other characteristics of tliis remarkable man. A Me- moir of him has been published by his brother-in-law, Kev. J. B. Waterbury, D.D. (N. Y.' 1870, 12mo); also a previous volume called The Missionary Doctor ami his Family, by M. E. Wilmer (Board of Publication of the Reformed Dutch Church). See Sprague, .4 ««<;/.< f</'Me Amer. Pulpit, vol. ix; Corwin, Manval of the Reformed Church in A merica, p. 204-210. (W. J. K. T.)
Scudder, John B., a Presbyterian minister, was born near Princeton, N. J.,.Iuiu-8, 1810. He was the old- est son of Jacob Scudder, M.D. He was graduateil at Princeton College in 18:!0, after which he spent one year in teaching in Virginia, and then returned to Princeton and entered the Theological Seminary. A failure of health prevented him from completing his theological course, and he went to Holmesville, Mass., for its recovery. While there he entered actively in the Sabbath-school and prayer and other religious meet- ings, making himself generally useful as a Christian. After the restoration of his health he had charge of several classical schools in Louisiana and at Memphis, Teiin., and also in Georgia and Florida. The last years of his life were spent in (ieorgia. Although he was not ordaineil, he sustained the relation of a lay preacher, and, while engaged as principal of a large school, was much occupied in conducting religious exercises, in dis- tributing religious tracts, and in other earnest and suc- cessful efforts to advance (he kingdom of Christ in the world. As a colaborer, he was as useful as any in the ministr}', and his labors of love were highly appreciated and much blessed. Like Harlan Page, his personal ef- forts brought many into the kingdom who might ha\e been beyond the reach of ministerial iufiiience. On the morning of July 19, 187G. he was suddenly struck down by apofilexy, and, after exclaiming "How blessed a thing it IS to be prepared to die !" he breathed his lafct. (W. P. S.^